POPULAR BOLLYWOOD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GUMRAAH - 3.5 Stars. PG.
Directed by - Vardhan Ketkar
Starring - Aditya Roy Kapur, Mrunal Thakur, Ronit Roy
The Story - Double role of Mr Aditya Roy Kapur. He has the looks, and so it was decided even if he plays a double role, both the people will have exactly same voice, face, hairstyle, facial hair, body type. Nothing changes this is not double role this is one guy changing clothes and mouthing lines. Well... actually that is a fact but you know in the story they are two seperate identical guys. Story is about a murder and one of the 2 have done it. Who is it?
The Characters - Aditya Roy Kapur is better than quite a lot of trash that are lead actors. Mrunal Thakur normally a great actor slips in this one. She is trying hard to be the tough cop, always having a very stand offish hard cop image in every scene which becomes stale.
The Verdict - Not a bad movie, when you got no choice you might as well watch this one. Good time pass, but don't have high expectations.
SELFIEE - 2.5 Stars. G.
Directed by - Raj Mehta
Starring - Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Diana Penty, Nushrratt Bharuccha
The Story - A copy of a South Indian movie. A fan wants to take selfie of his favorite actor but things get complicated and they become friend-enemies.
The Characters - Akshay kumar is doing his usual 'bad movie' acting. He is going through the motions trying to get another pay check, Emraan Hashmi looks like he put on some fake moustache and wig and you can't get over his bad dad look.
The Verdict - If you ever start this one and finish it up, you will not talk about it, nor will you ever think about it. It is just that, a movie that happened and you will go back to washing dishes or whatever you need to do.
BHEDIYA - 2.0 Stars. PG.
Directed by Amar Kaushik
Starring Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Abhishek Banerjee, Deepak Dobriyal, Paalin Kabak
The Story - A man converts into a Wolf. That's it.
The Characters - Varun Dhawan has decided that 'Badlapur' was a fluke. He is not an actor. He craves to become Govinda of his Dad's movies. Fair enough, one more actor gone. Kriti Sanon is also female Varun. She is bent on proving that 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' was a fluke. She wants to be the Superstar actress who comes in for a few songs and romantic angle in a big bollywood movie and make lots of money. Another actor gone.
The Verdict - A guy becomes a bhediya and that's it. Nothing else happens. Yes, there are a few jokes regarding that and Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee keep the movie from being a complete waste. The sidekicks keep the movie funny and engaging as Varun's friends.
Mrs CHATTERJEE Vs NORWAY - 3.0 Stars.
Directed by - Ashima Chibber
Starring - Rani Mukerji, Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, Jim Sarbh
The Story - Mrs Chatterjee goes to Norway to start her happy married life but the authorities deem them unfit parents and take their babies away. Mrs Chatterjee fights Norway.
The Characters - Rani Mukherji like always puts in everything in the role of a mother who wants her kids back. Anirban does well as the husband who is stuck between making an off shore career and keeping his family together. Jim Sarbh is always good.
The Verdict - The Norway authorities are bunch of really bad white actors that pulls the movie quality down. Also, the childish way they behave and the way they steal kids is very weird and doesn't look real. But whenever you say - based on true story, it basically means a lot of it is not true. Either way a pretty engaging affair and it is better than what you expect.
SHEHZADA - 2.5 Stars. G.
Directed by - Rohit Dhawan
Starring - Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala
The Story - A typical rehash of Govinda style David Dhawan movies directed by a 'Dhawan'. Son of a servant goes into the the big kingdom of the rich people to find out he may be the right heir.
The Characters - Karthik Aryan our new Salman non actor Super star is good for this kind of movie. He has to plaster his fake stupid smile and mouth dialogues that are meaningless. As is expected Kriti who has chosen to become a non actor superstar is perfect foil to look pretty and dumb in such movies.
The Verdict - In case you liked those David Dhawan movies and still want to see similar stuff maybe you can give it a try.
BHOLAA - 2.0 Stars. PG
Directed by - Ajay Devgn
Starring - Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Sanjay Mishra, Deepak Dobriyal, Gajraj Rao, Vineet Kumar
The Story - It is an Ajay Devgn film. A guy who believes in stupid spelling changes in english of a hindi word, yes this Devgn. Why do you think their is going to be a story? Anyways, Bhola is a tough guy out of Jail and going to rescue people before he meets his estranged daughter. Copy of some random South movie.
The Characters - Ajay Devgn has this stash of money that he needs to use to make movies in his basement. I don't know what the compulsion is but who cares. He doesn't put in any effort in acting either, Tabu runs along to put her name to make it Ajay and Tabu are back.
The Verdict - We need to start a petition to stop Ajay from making movies. Because it is a copy of a south movie it does have some twists and emotions, there you go. In case you really really wanted to watch and I was stopping you, I gave you something to look forward to.
BHEED - 3.5 Stars. PG
Directed by - Anubhav Sinha
Starring - Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Dia Mirza, Ashutosh Rana, Pankaj Kapur, Kritika Kamra
The Story - A day in the life of a migrant. The greatest invisible division in human history is caste system. How one callous call for shutdown from Authorities make a huge difference to the lives of an entire section of people. Live one day of their lives as this movie does.
The Characters - As long time readers of this Blog know, We love Anubhav Sinha. Whatever he does and whatever he makes is so topical, poignant and thought provoking. Rajkummar and Bhumi are great in their roles as the police officer and her girl friend plus nurse who are trying to stop migrants from going to their villages. Dia Mirza has an awesome cameo, pankaj kapur does a pankaj kapur.
The Verdict - I am biased and I love this kind of social statements. If you got a liberal bone in you watch it, if not skip it. The movie is in black and white, depicting the partition type feeling of 1947 as India was seeing an unseen partition live.
OPERATION MAYFAIR - 1 Star. G.
Operation Mayfair - Trailer
Director - Sudipto Sarkar
Stars - Jimmy Shergill, Vedieka Dutt, Ankur Bhatia
The Story - You don't need to worry about it.
The Characters - Jimmy Shergill used to be the darling of this blog and committee of one. Now Jimmy sadly has fallen onto bad times and doing movies with C grade actors. Let's keep the Jimmy that we loved in our thoughts and never watch this.
The Verdict - Don't watch it. The C grade actors trying to pass as London inhabitants will just kill you. Don't.
FARAAZ - 3.5 Stars. R.
Directed by - Hansal Mehta
Starring - Juhi Babbar, Aamir Ali, Aditya Rawal, Zahan Kapoor, Jatin Sarin, Pallak Lalwani, Reshham Sahaani
The Story - Faraaz is about a boy who was caught in a restaurant during a terrorist attack in Bangladesh. What happened that one night when terrorists took over.
The Characters - None of the actors are known hindi movie actors, but they all do a great job. The guy playing Faraaz is good and rest of the cast make this a gripping affair.
The Verdict - The only reason you won't see it, you don't want to see a very real terrorist drama. It feels real and spine chilling. Very uncomfortable to watch and I don't think any of you will ever watch it. Anyways, I will let you know Faraaz was an every-man Hero.
WEB SERIES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOOP - 3.5 Stars. PG
Created by - Hansal Mehta, Mrunmayee Lagoo, Waikul
Based on Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison by Jigna Vora
Starring - Karishma Tanna, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Harman Baweja, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Deven Bhojani
The Story - Story of a reporter who covered big breaking news and found ways to get underworld news gets caught in her own success. How once a high profile reporter becomes sidelined and made a scapegoat once you lose contacts. A true story of a reporter during underworld days on 1980s.
The Characters - Karisma Tanna puts everything she has into the role, a chance of a lifetime and she does full justice with it. Every side character has bought into the entire drama, Mohammad Zeeshan is outstanding playing the honest journalist.
The Verdict - It looks like another drama in plethora of dramas on OTT, but this one is better than others. It stays true to the real life story, no hollywood-ish twists every few minutes to keep you engaged. Instead it gives time to each character to grow and develop in an effort to knit a beautiful real life story of a crime reporter.
NEVER HAVE I EVER - season 4 - 4.0 Stars. PG
Never Have I Ever - Trailer
Created by - Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher
Starring - Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet, John McEnroe, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez
The Story - US teen dramas are the best, and this Indian-American one comes to an end with the high school graduation.
The Characters - As informed before I love them all.
The Verdict - Yes, it should not be reviewed but I just wanted to let you know my favorite TV show came to an end. This season I did cry once, when Devi's obsession to go to Princeton is psycho-analyzed back to her Dad's death. Aww... what a show.
INDIAN MATCHMAKING - 3 - 0 Stars.
Created by - Smriti Mundhra
Presented by - Sima Taparia
The Story - It started with a bang and ended with a whimper. Sima Aunty tries to match make Indian style.
The Characters - Finally Sima Aunty becomes unbearable to watch, mouthing same lines again and again. Pushing stupid dumb things that are Indian in our face and from funny it became tiring.
The Verdict - Don't watch it. If you watched the first you watched them all. You cant tell the difference from one to the other.
DAHAAD - 4.0 Stars. PG13
Created by - Reema Kagti, Zoya Akhtar
Starring - Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma, Sohum Shah
The Story - A great cop drama. Cops try to be one step ahead of a serial killer to avoid more killings. Very standard serial killer plot done right.
The Characters - Easily the best work Sonakshi has ever done. Take a bow Sonakshi Sinha. Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma all put in awesome performances. Sonakshi and Gulshan's Boss subordinate relationship is awesome.
The Verdict - First time a serial killer is revealed in first episode and still you can't stop watching. It's not the identity it's the process of trapping him that is enthralling. It's not even the actual killing but the side stories and characters and their wholesome treatment and experiences that make it a great show.
